Looking Forward to Another World Chapter 743: Betrayal, a God’s Death

Time had rewound, returning moments before. At this exact juncture, Thanatos, who had managed to escape thanks to Barca’s assistance, plummeted to the next floor via the shifting adamantite flooring. Upon landing, he didn’t pause to address the pain in his lower back from the abrupt descent. Instead, he immediately sprang up and fled. "Hoo, that was a truly narrow escape," Thanatos casually mused as he ran, exhibiting no hint of alarm. This outcome, after all, had been within his calculations. When he had resolved to confront Riezel, the possibility of their operation faltering had already been factored in. He was, in essence, an omniscient yet powerless deity, his Arcanum sealed. Even with allies like Ishtar, gifted with charm, and Kali, a Goddess of War, by his side, facing a being who could effortlessly defeat Gugalanna—a powerhouse whose might even dwarted the Monster Rex Balor—the strategy to delay had always carried a significant risk of failure. Had an ordinary mortal found themselves in Thanatos's position, the very notion of resistance might have eluded them. Thus, Thanatos’s decision to step forward, as Kali herself had noted, was an act of considerable bravery. Of course, this audacity was also fueled by Thanatos’s knowledge that he wouldn't be killed. He understood that denizens of the Lower World dared not casually transgress the sacred taboo of slaying a god. In his assessment, the most severe consequence would be capture by Riezel, as previously stated, not immediate demise and return to Heaven. So long as he wasn't instantly repatriated, avenues for escape would surely exist. For the Thanatos Familia, masters of Knossos's intricate traps, such an accomplishment was far from impossible. Fortunately, capture had been averted, and his escape proceeded without a hitch. This success was largely attributed to Ishtar’s temporary role as a human shield and, crucially, to Ein’s timely intervention that facilitated his flight. "Well, that situation is settled. Ishtar and Kali must be absolutely livid right now, wouldn’t you say?" It was undeniable that Thanatos’s actions had effectively meant abandoning them. Setting Kali aside, Ishtar was bound to be incandescent with rage. Given her notoriously petty and narrow-minded nature, coupled with her inability to tolerate much, she might even seek retribution later. "Ah, never mind them. It’s pointless dwelling on their anger. My focus must be on navigating out of this current predicament." Even as he ran, Thanatos’s mind raced, strategizing. Though their current circumstances appeared dire, a path to turning the tables still existed. Riezel was undoubtedly spiraling out of control, poised to wreak havoc throughout Knossos. He might even breach the 10th Floor, confronting the entity awaiting there, thereby catastrophically disrupting their grand design. However, the remaining members of the Loki Familia lacked such influence or overwhelming power. Their present state was, in fact, perilously precarious. Unlike Riezel, who was recklessly descending, they found themselves on the brink, vulnerable to being cornered and losing their lives at any moment. In such a scenario... "There exists a method to relay intelligence about their precarious situation to that little monster, diverting his attention." "If he becomes aware that his companions are in grave danger, that little monster will surely cease his descent and prioritize their rescue." "Allowing the Loki Familia’s charges to reunite with him is not precisely the optimal outcome, yet it is infinitely preferable to him breaching the 10th Floor and beholding..." As these possibilities were meticulously weighed, a smile once again graced Thanatos’s lips. "Regardless of the final outcome, even if the Loki Familia manages to escape, it shall not imperil our ultimate objective." "Soon, Orario will be reduced to a desolate expanse of ruins." "And at that momentous time, the world I so profoundly desire will finally be realized." Within this world existed a diverse pantheon of deities. Consider the Goddesses of Beauty, such as Freya and Ishtar, who wielded dominion over attractiveness. Then there were gods like Hephaestus, the Goddess of Smithing, whose profound dedication to her craft led to unparalleled achievements. Thanatos, too, belonged to this distinct category. He presided over death, the ultimate arbiter, and held sway over its intricate mechanisms. Within the celestial realm, his sacred duty entailed overseeing the souls of departed mortals from the Lower World. His responsibilities encompassed dispensing judgment, performing purification rites, bestowing commendations, and occasionally facilitating reincarnation. These tasks constituted his divinely appointed work and his solemn obligation. However, following the tumultuous conclusion of the ancient era, the sealing of the Dungeon, and the subsequent establishment of Orario—which heralded the Age of Gods, a period characterized by divine descent into the mortal realm—Thanatos found his duties progressively becoming more… unburdened. The reason? A decline in mortality. Consequently, a diminished flow of souls ascended to Heaven.

With dungeons no longer spewing forth monsters and a surge of powerful adventurers emerging thanks to Falna, the populace had gained the might to combat these creatures. Consequently, the casualty rate plummeted, and the flow of souls to Heaven dwindled dramatically. This celestial lull meant Thanatos, the God of Death, found his duties significantly diminished, sparking a deep sense of dissatisfaction within him.

Driven by this discontent, Thanatos descended into the Lower World. His sole desire: 'I wish for more children to meet their end.'

With this grim aspiration, Thanatos embraced the role of an evil god. He founded Evilus, aiming to sow death and chaos throughout the Lower World. Therefore, when a servant of Enyo appeared, proposing a pact to annihilate Orario, Thanatos readily agreed.

His objective was clear: witness Orario's obliteration, usher in the return of an ancient era, and see a vast multitude of souls ascend to Heaven. This, he believed, would restore the original cosmic balance between life and death. Once equilibrium was re-established, he envisioned returning to Heaven to resume his rightful place as the God of Death.

Thus... No matter the cost, the plan to demolish Orario must prevail... Thanatos whispered to himself, a smile playing on his lips, seemingly oblivious to Riezel's prior assertion that he was merely a pawn.

...

At an opportune moment, Thanatos, who had been navigating the subterranean passages, abruptly halted. ...Who are you?

Thanatos stared, taken aback, at the figure who had materialized before him undetected. The individual was cloaked in mystery, their face concealed by a mask, and clad in a purplish-indigo robe that enveloped their entire form. A black shawl was draped over it, adorned with several masks, creating a disquieting spectacle.

Despite having never encountered this person, Thanatos instinctively recognized their divine aura – they were undoubtedly a god, just like himself. ...Enyo? he inquired hesitantly.

His question was met not with words, but with swift action. A gleaming blade plunged into Thanatos's chest as the enigmatic god lunged forward, driving a dagger deep into him.

Eh...? AAAAAAARGHHH—!!!

A cry of agony erupted from Thanatos as he instinctively flung his arm out, propelling the assailant away. The mysterious god stumbled but quickly regained their footing.

Behind the mask, the god observed Thanatos, his chest now a bloody mess, an unnerving curve forming at the corner of their mouth. Thank you for your service, God of Death.

Addressing the stunned Thanatos, the mysterious deity spoke calmly. I shall handle things from here; you are no longer of use.

With those words, the god's robe billowed as they turned and departed with deliberate grace. Thanatos was left alone, collapsing onto the crimson floor, his gaze locked on the retreating figure, his eyes blazing with fury.

ENYOOO—!!!

That enraged, hate-filled cry became the God of Death's final utterance in the Lower World. Shortly thereafter, a soft light began to emanate from Thanatos's form.

To safeguard a god grievously wounded, the sealed Arcanum spontaneously activated, mending Thanatos's injuries. However, the manifestation of the Arcanum signaled the conclusive end of his sojourn in the Lower World. As the light intensified into a colossal pillar and ascended from Thanatos, Knossos began to quake.

The pillar of light, symbolising a god's return, roared skyward, piercing through Knossos and erupting from Orario's Daedalus Street. In that instant, across all of Orario, every inhabitant, regardless of their standing, witnessed the dazzling column of light ascending into the heavens.

This pure, magnificent, and tragically beautiful pillar signaling a god's return instantly captivated the attention of all mortals and gods alike, shattering the tranquility they had known only moments before. On that day, everyone in Orario, mortal or divine, understood a profound truth: on what seemed a perfectly ordinary day, a silent battle had transpired in a secluded corner of the city. The fact that a god had fallen and been recalled to Heaven attested to the ferocity of that conflict.

===

Meanwhile, outside the entrance to Knossos, the support contingent of the Loki Familia, who had been stationed there, was thrown into disarray by the sudden, violent tremors. Loki!

Riveria, her usual composure shattered, cried out to her goddess. I know!

Loki's carefree demeanor vanished. Lying on the ground, she forced her eyes open, her expression grim as she fixed her gaze upon the pillar of light that seemed tantalizingly close. Who?

Who was sent back?

Enyo? Or one of the Evilus gods?Lacking any definitive knowledge, these were the sole deities Loki could conceptualize. Based on her understanding, they were probably the only gods with the capacity to manifest within the artificial bounds of the Man-Made Dungeon at this time. "Finn and Riezel didn't actually make direct contact with a god, did they?" Loki inquired, openly clicking her tongue in disapproval. "If that turns out to be true, then we are utterly doomed." The act of slaying a god is considered a profound taboo. Even if the deity in question was malevolent, intending to bring ruin to Orario, the sentence of judgment should not have been passed by inhabitants of the Lower World. Loki could only cling to a sliver of hope—a desperate wish that the unfortunate god met their demise through an accidental, unforeseen event, perishing without purpose, rather than being struck down by her own children. It was at this precise moment that a realization dawned upon her. "It appears this situation cannot truly be kept under wraps any longer..." From this point forward, Orario was destined to be plunged into chaos; avoiding this outcome was impossible. ===